A SYSTEM AND REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR PRESERVING THE QUALITY OF A RANGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THE CONTAINER INDEPENDENTLY MAINTAINS MODIFIED ATMOSPHERES AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY WITHIN THE RANGE OF 1% TO 50% CARBON DIOXIDE PLUS 1% TO 15% OXYGEN AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 75%RH AND 100%RH. FOR PRODUCE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOULD, YEAST AND/OR BACTERIAL GROWTH AT RH OF 75% TO 80% WILL RESULT IN OPTIMUM QUALITY RETENTION. THE CONTAINER INCLUDES A PLASTIC BODY, PLASTIC LID AND A GAS PERMEABLE FILM MEMBRANE HERMETICALLY SEALED BETWEEN THE LID AND THE CONTAINER. THE PLASTIC BODY AND LID CAN BE POLYAMIDE (NYLON 6, 11, 12, OR 66 AND BLENDS THEREOF), POLYCARBONATE, POLYETHYLENE, POLYETHYLENETEREPTHALATE, POLYPROPYLENE, POLYSTYRENE, POLYVINYLCHLORIDE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF. THE LID CAN BE MACRO-PERFORATED FOR A THREE PIECE APPLICATION OR MICRO-PERFORATED FOR A TWO PIECE APPLICATION. THE FILM MEMBRANES CAN HAVE DIFFERENT OXYGEN AND CARBON DIOXIDE PERMEABILITY RATES FOR SPECIFIC PACKAGE VOLUMES AND SPECIFIC PRODUCE RESPIRATIONS.
